EU urged to adopt new sanctions against N.Korea

The European Union (EU) should adopt new autonomous sanctions to step up economic and diplomatic pressure on North Korea over its nuclear and ballistic missile programme, a top official said on Thursday.

EU leaders should study "new autonomous EU sanctions on North Korea, and (work) with other partners in the world to make sure that everybody implements fully and strictly the already decided economic measures," the European Union High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini said.

"Today we're facing a different level of threat, that is clearly a threat to global peace and security and to the entire non-proliferation regime."

She also urged countries to avoid "entering into the spiral of a military confrontation that could be extremely dangerous not only for the region but for the entire world".

When questioned on the effectiveness of economic sanctions, the Italian politician said they have made a difference in other cases and led to meaningful dialogue.

"The European Union has always been convinced that economic pressure alone is never sufficient, that is why we always offer our regional international partners and the international community and even North Korea, the path of credible dialogue.

"Other alternatives could be extremely dangerous, especially when in front of you you have an interlocutor who might act irrationally, as we have already seen,.

"Today I will propose to ministers the proposals to work in the coming days to increase the EU's autonomous sanctions and that debate, if the Ministers agree, we will start as of today," she added.

--IANS

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